AKRON, Ohio — Michael Dokes, a former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion, has died. He was 54.

The Rhoden Memorial Home in Akron said Dokes died Saturday. The Akron Beacon Journal reported that the boxer died in an Akron hospice from liver cancer.

Known as “Dynamite” Dokes because he packed a powerful punch, the fighter won the WBA title in 1982 by defeating Michael Weaver. He lost the title a year later when he was beaten by Gerrie Coetzee.

Dokes had a career record of 53-6-2.

In 1986, Dokes was arrested in Las Vegas for cocaine trafficking and served two years’ probation. In 2000, he was sentenced to 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to attempted murder, second-degree kidnapping and intent to commit sexual assault against his girlfriend. He was released in 2008.

Meeks, a three-year veteran, appeared in 66 games last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 8.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 24.9 minutes.

Meeks has career averages of 8.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 200 career games.

Ebanks, a second-round pick of the Lakers in 2010, played in 24 games last season and averaged 4.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 16.5 minutes. Ebanks has career averages of 3.6 points in 44 games.

UNC reviewing possible post of Peppers’ transcript

North Carolina is investigating how what appears to be a transcript for former football star Julius Peppers surfaced on the university’s website.

In a statement Monday, the school said it has removed the link and that it couldn’t discuss confidential student information covered by federal privacy laws. The school didn’t confirm the authenticity of the partial grade summary, which lists Peppers’ name at the top.

The link, which surfaced late Sunday, showed Peppers received some of his highest grades in classes in the Department of African and Afro-American Studies. A school investigation has since found fraud and poor oversight in 54 AFAM classes between summer 2007 and summer 2011, with student-athletes making up 58 percent of the overall enrollments in those suspect classes.

Yanks sign Derek Lowe to bolster bullpen

NEW YORK — The Yankees signed Derek Lowe to a major league contract Monday and said they plan to use him in the bullpen.

Cleveland designated the 39-year-old right-hander for assignment Aug. 2 and released him Friday.

Lowe has a 4.01 ERA in 655 games with the Mariners, Red Sox, Dodgers, Braves and Indians.